Chelating Composite Membrane: Its Application in Selective Heavy-Metal Solid-Phase Separation

by Sukalyan Sengupta, Univ of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, United States,
Arup K. Sengupta, Univ of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Critical Issues in Water and Wastewater Treatment

Abstract:

Selective removal of small amounts of heavy metals from the background of large amounts of innocuous sludge or slurry is a challenging separation problem. Conventional fixed-bed sorption processes are unable to handle sludges/slurries with high suspended solids content. This study identifies and investigates a new class of composite sorptive/desorptive ion-exchange membrane made of fine particles of chelating polymers entrapped in thin sheets of porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). These membranes are not fouled by high concentration of suspended solids but retain the original properties of the chelating exchangers. Various physico-chemical properties of the sorptive/desorptive membranes are discussed in context to decontamination of heavy-metal-laden sludges.

Subject Headings: Heavy metals | Membranes | Sludge | Sorption | Turbidity | Composite materials | Waste treatment

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